Pedro Throws Simulated Game

A day after his first scheduled minor league rehab start was rained out, Pedro Martinez pitched 5.1 innings in a simulated game yesterday against Mets minor leaguers.

With general manager Omar Minaya looking on, Martinez gave up two runs — one earned — and four hits against players from the St. Lucie Mets and the Gulf Coast League Mets. Martinez threw 50 of 67 pitches for strikes. He struck out three, walked none and hit a batter.

"I feel well right now," Martinez said. "I can tell you after the game, whether I iced or not, I feel fine. I feel normal."

Martinez, who could start for the St. Lucie Mets as soon as Tuesday, needed 39 pitches to get through the first two innings. He pitched more efficiently the rest of the way.

"Really, I thought the encouraging part for me guys was the back of those innings," Minaya said. "The back of those innings when he was throwing the fastball down and away with the movement, that's Pedro."

Most of Martinez's fastballs were from 86–88 mph, Minaya said.

"Anything that we get from Pedro this year is extra," Minaya said. "We feel that there is a chance ... for me the guys that we have right now, we have to plan on winning with these guys. We're not saying that he's going to come back and be this guy that's going to get us to the next level."

Martinez said he felt more comfortable toward the end of the start.